Utah Jazz: Boozer says no worries, hamstring should be fine

ANAHEIM, Calif. — All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer didn't play in the Jazz's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night here, but he could be back fairly soon.

The absence was due to soreness in his strained left hamstring — the same hamstring Boozer tore during the first week of training camp in 2005, causing him to miss the 2005-06 NBA season's first 49 games.

Boozer, though, suggested there's no cause for concern.

"No, none at all," he said after the team's morning shootaround at the Honda Center.

"Just taking it as a precaution and (letting) the soreness get out of there," Boozer added, "and I'll be back in a couple of days, I'm sure."

Boozer said he may play in the Jazz's first home exhibition game Thursday night against Phoenix at EnergySolutions Arena, but probably only if he's able to go on the hamstring today.

"If not," Boozer said, "I'll wait until the swelling goes away."

Soreness in the muscle initially developed Sunday, and remained even after treatment Monday.

"It's still a little sore," he said, "so obviously I wanted to be safe and not stupid."

Said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan: "I think that's the right thing to do."

Boozer said he had no issues with the hamstring while playing during August for USA Basketball's gold medal-winning entry in the Summer Olympics.

"I was great after the Olympics, all summer long," he said.

But the fact he missed so much time in 2005-06 because of the hamstring was cause for pause this time around.

"I thought about it a little bit," Boozer said. "That's why, as a group, we decided to sit down, let the inflammation go away, let it chill out, and then in a day or so I'll get back at it.

"I'm in great shape, and I'm looking forward to this season," he added. "I think we have a team that can do some great things."

UPON FURTHER REVIEW: The Jazz and other NBA teams are voting this week on whether to allow referees to turn to video replay on any play necessary to determine if a shot has been correctly scored as a 2-pointer or a 3-pointer, including the awarding of free throws on such a play, and also whether or not to allow officials to use instant replay for timing decisions when a clock malfunctions with no time remaining at the end of any quarter or overtime period.